Wire-fence machine.



Patented July I7, 1900.

G. P. A. WEISENBURN.

WIBE FENCE MACHINE.

(Application filed June 14, 1899.) (No Model.) {Shanty-Sheet} gluvemto'z- N0. 653,7l9. Patented July 17, I900.

' G. P. A. WEISENBORN.

WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

(Application filed June 14, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Modal.)

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UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE P. A. \VEISENBORN, OF QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

WIRE-FENCE MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 653,719, dated July 17, 1900. Application filed June 14, 1899. Serial No. 720.534- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. A. WEISEN- BORN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Quincy, in the county of Adams and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVire-Feuce Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain novel improvements in wire-fence-weaving machines; and the object is to simplify and improve the construction and increase the durability, range, and efficiency of the device.

To this end the invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings the same reference characters indicate the same parts of the invention.

Figure 1 is a front view of my improved wi refence-weaving machine as it appears in operation. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of aportion of my machine. Fig. 4: is a detail side view of one of the twisterheads. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the other side. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the guideguard 18. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of the rear of the bevel-gear 8, showing the lockingrecess 8.

1 1 denote parallel plates, which are practically counterpart members, and they are laterally stiffened by the truss-braces a a. These plates and braces are secured together at their ends, and the plates are secured throughout their length by a series of bolts 2 2 and intervening stay-sleeves 3 3. These plates are provided with alined orifices to receive the twister-heads 4 4:, all of which are uniform in construction and each is cast with a circumferential gear 4 the gear on the one intermeshing with the contiguous gears throughout the entire series, so that a rotary motion imparted to one will imparta corresponding movement to the entire series with the alternate gears revolving in the same direction. These twister-heads are each provided with a diaphragm 4 formed with transverse heart-shaped orifices 4 to receive the contiguous strands 5 5 of the horizontal fencewire and with an intervening web 6 to strengthen the metal between the orifices. Each twister-head is formed with the bearin gs 4 and 4:, which are journaled in the orifices in the plates, and with the annular shoulders 4 4 which retain the head in alinement. The rear end of each head is also formed with an annular shoulder 1 and a concrete flange 1 the .periphery of which is formed with a rectangular radial lug 4 and the inner face of the flange is also provided with longitudinal lugs 4 4: to receive thecountersunk screws 7 7, which secure the bevel gear-wheel 8 to the head 4', the bevelgear being provided with a recess 8 to receive the lug 4 and thus take the strain from the retaining-screws.

9 denotes a bevel-pinion in mesh with the gear 8, and it is fixed on a shaft 10, jonrnaled in the angular bracket 12, fixed to the plate 1,

and the outer end of said shaft carries a crank-handle 13, by means of which a rotary motion is simultaneously imparted to the twister-heads.

1% denotes an adjustable foot-gage secured between the lower ends of the plates to form a support for the stay-wires in the operation of building the fence.

15 15 denote conveying bra'ce-rods,the outer ends of which are adjustably secured in a socket 16 by the set-screws 17 17, and this socket in turn is adjustably secured to an angle-iron guide or guard.18 by means of a set-screw 19, which passes through a slot 20 in said guard. This guard is also provided with guide-orifices 21 21 to receive the horizontal fence-wires, and thus support the machine in a vertical position.

22 denotes the tension devices, which retain the horizontal wires in position While the fence is being formed, and 23 denotesthe spreaders, which separate the contiguous strands 5 5 of the fence-wires in advance of the machine.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The fence-wires are arranged in pairs, as shown, the strands of each pair passing through the proper twister-head, as shown, and after a few twists have been given the wires a picket 5 is dropped down between the separated strands until its lower end rests on the foot-gage. The twister-heads are again rotated a few times, preferably in a reverse direction, and a second picket inserted and the operation continued in this manner until the entire fence is completed.

The machine is very light in weight, and it is entirely supported by the fence-wires, thus requiring no track or other support, and the operation of twisting the strands feeds the machine along as each picket is inserted, while the tension devices retain the proper strain on the fence-wires and at the same time compensate for the wire taken up in the process of twisting.

The accompanying drawings show my invention in the best form now known to me, but many changes in the details might be made within the skill of a good mechanic without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the claims at the end of this specification.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States,

1. In a wire-fence machine, the combination with the twister-head L formed with the radial lug 4: and the longitudinal lugs 4 4 of the bevel-gear 8, formed with recess 8' and adapted to be secured to said head, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a wire-fence machine, the combination with the parallel plates, the truss-braces and the bolts connecting the contiguous ends of said plates and braces, of the twister-heads journaled in saidplates and means for 1'0- tating said heads, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEO. P. A. \VEISENBORN.

Witnesses:

J. W. POWELL, THOMAS EGAN. 

